| I got your email address from Harry Kingston. A short while ago you mentioned Homer D. (Curly) Prickett as a elephant man. Can you tell me any more about him. I belong to CFA/Byrd Family Tent and used to write articles for Circus Report when traveling with Gopher D ( as a circus Fan), K-M, C & B, to name a few. I really enjoy the Blog. Keep up the good work...Bill Prickett |
Friday, October 19, 2007
Black Diamond #1
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Just a few thoughts on last evening dress of the Big Apple Circus, New York.
A congress of celebrated circus celebrities congregated beneath the grand chapiteau to watch Big Apple's production of "Celebrate".
Some acts are worth celebrating, others shouldn't have been invited to the party.
The newest import to the United States is FUMAGALLI, not a Japanese car but a clown who attended the David Larible School of UNFUNNY. Fumagalli's routines are old and creaky just like his old and creaky knees. One wonders why did Big Apple booked him. When Fumagalli is working it would be an appropriate time to visit the lavatory because you ain't missing a thing. Not to be harsh, but my favorite part of Fumagalli's acts was when he exited the ring.
Tongues were flapping when RBBB's Mr. Holst and Mr. O'Donald took their seats down front. It has been such a long time that either has seen a GOOD show that they decided to see Big Apple. Tongues were also flapping when TEAM HOLST left the show DURING the first half. Ticket holder to my left suggested that they broke out in hives from an allergic reaction to seeing real talent.
To be celebrated: the teeterboard troupe, Grandma, Yasmine Smart, Markova's dogs, Kris Kremo who proves that you can make a living doing a juggling act and a most sensational slack wire act.
I apologize if I left anyone out but I wrenched my neck looking over my shoulder in case Tim Holst was sneaking up on me to stab me in the back AGAIN.
Ocar Wilde, the dramatist and poet said, "The secret of life is to appreciate being terribly, terribly deceived."
P.S. To FUMAGALLI, Welcome to America but DONT SEND OUT YOUR LAUNDRY.
The above statement makes me wish I had learned how to "pick" people with BB's like Fay Alexander could.
It would come in handy at next week's wedding if one of the parties mentioned should attend.
To "two on the aisle-----said..." Yes, I wrote when they premiered in Washington, D.C., that at first he is funny. But like with many acts he is put out there too often, and too long. Thus he gets old. I had the good fortune to see the show more than once while it was here. Thought his last time out with the bee routine was just way too long, boring, and over the top with the water. Watching parents cover their children with jackets so they won’t get spit upon, and some people just getting up and going up the isle to avoid him tells me it isn’t working. Let’s see what the NY press has to say?
Concerning Mr. Holst: these great acts have all been around and I am quite sure he has seen them more than once. Truly first rate performers in their areas of expertise! But the "Holst Team" has seen them before. So I find nothing unusual about his leaving as 'Big Name' producers do this all the time whether they like their associates work or not. You'll find tent producers are more courteous to their hosts, stay and enjoy the evening!
Do know I enjoy the writer’s honesty. Sure, often people have an ax to grind and will cut something up. But I get tired of reading rave reviews in circus publications of a show I recently saw that was just awful. Every circus is not great because you love circus. As the reviewer wrote most of the acts are truly amazing and this is a show you should definitely go out of your way to see! As with most shows, the filler parts are 'ho-hum'. And unfortunately this is true with the music at times. I said, “at times”, as there is some fantastic live music that makes several of these great acts even more effective with the timing only a live band can give you [and thank you Big Apple for ‘live music’!]. However, some of the transitions will lull a five-year-old to sleep!
And while I am on my soapbox today: there was great coverage in the Washington Post while the show was here. One item did peak my curiosity thought. It stated that although attendance has grown by 4,000 here in Washington during the shows two and a half week engagement, that the attendance for the national tour has dropped a little. Gee Buckle’s, is there a timing here with the loss of Circus Elephants about that time?
Carl
Thank you Buckles(we know who you are), and Carl(at least a first name is a start), for courageously making a statement. Two on the aisle, (???????), who scares you the most? Mr. Holst, Mr. O'Donnel, Mr. Binder, Mr. Fumagalli, or maybe, Mr. Larible. We've all been "stabbed in the back", a time or two, just ask Buckles, for one. But we didn't all go into hiding. Wade Burck
Thank You for the review,
I would like to take this time to give a few reviews of things I have not actually seen, but heard "third party of coarse" were really terrible . Another favorite pastime in this business.
I know who submitted both BAC critiques but not having seen the show since we left, I have no opinion.
I must admit tho they do have a bizarre taste in the clowns they bring over. One group was so bad they had to be omitted from the Kid Shows.
Children can be ruthless, on their second appearance they were ignored and on their third, were booed.
This number also included water and plenty of beefs from New Yorkers who resented being spat upon.
On the other hand, please exclude me from being a "stabbed in the back" victim. With the Big Apple Circus I found everyone from Mr. Binder down to be completely honorable in their dealings.
In fact the house from which this Blog emits was built thru their generosity.
Yet I must say that another person whose name has been bandied about of late had "All the characteristics of a dog, except loyalty!".
Buckles, I wasn't insinuating that BAC had "stabbed you in the back". I was just assuming that at some time in your long and illustrious career, you had been. Sorry for the misunderstanding. Wade Burck
Buckles, I think I worked out the misunderstanding. When two on the aisle, mentioned "looking over my shoulder", and you said "if one of the parties mentioned should attend", and I said "we have all been stabbed in the back", I just thought we were all talking about the same person, and just wondered why you and I did not have our head's ostriched in the sand. Wade Burck
It's a shame they didn't stay for the whole show. Everyone got out the good wardrobe for nothing.
I think that all these comments are an insult to the great pictures of Black Diamond. Lets get with it folks and really try to comment on the pictures!!! Even if you have a beef with what you saw at the show.
Wow, I wonder if there is only one anonymous. He/she is always either critical, or telling others what to do. Who is this Lord of the Empire? Wade Burck
No Wade, I am certain there is more then one anonymous, because yesterday, I was one. It was despicable, and shady, and I can't live with myself until I rite my wrong. I posted as Not hiding in the aisle. Now I feel better..
Also the last anonymous, is rite, these comments are an insult to the fine pictures, of a very fine looking elephant. I am planning a trip in Nov. to the construction company, in Corsicanna that has Diamond's remains on display. The owner of which, was a five year old boy at at the fatal parade.
Fifty years ago when we played the the Houston Shrine date I would visit the zoo and remember seeing "Diamond's" head with a full set of ivory, mounted on a wall and placed at the exact height he stood.
Very impressive. How did he manage to get to Corsicanna?
A guy who owns a construction co. and had a "trophy room" traded the Houston Museum of Science some other stuffed animals for the head and tusks. He also claims to own a the stake Diamond was chained to at the end. I am doubtful on the stake, in the photos it looks like a 3/4 pickup gear head. But he does own the head now. I have a feeling I will not like the guy, for he tells on his website that the reasoning of the attack that day was years of being chained, but I am going there just the same to take a few pictures.
Casey, I thought you had other plans for the end of November? Wade Burck
This is early Nov. Wade, but I havent heard any more about the "other" plans yet
Buckles, I had also seen the head in Houston, and did not know it had been moved. I went there in 1978 with Larry French, while playing the Texas dates. It was a beautiful mount, and even had the supposed bullet holes. He was a good looking boy(Diamond, not Larry) Wade Burck
P.S. Casey, you probably won't hear any more about the other thing
now!!!
From the Lord of the Empire,
quit your bitchin.
I can't say anything about Fumagalli but I must defend David Larible. I saw him on Atayde before Ringling and I saw him on Ringling. He had some trouble adjusting to the size of the arenas Ringling plays but when he did, wow. In my humble opinion he is one of the funniest solo clowns I have ever seen.
Yet another anonymous.
I thought it was only children that clowns scared. Wade Burck
Wadkins Construction has either the orginal head mount or a reproduction. I work in Corsicana alot but never get the time to just stop in an see it first hand. Casey, if you are planning a visit give me a call on my cell, 903 880 3230 and I will buy you lunch and show you the location of the accident. There is a marker close to the spot. Gary
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